Motor drive unit for combines



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' MOTOR DRIVE UNIT FOR COMBINES Filed Nov. 27, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 kk m N o I??? g 4: 0 o O O 0 0 0 F o I ATTD RN EYE Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,596,633 MOTOR DRIVE UNIT FOR COMBINES Walter W. Wiersig, Alva, Okla.

Application November 27, 1945, Serial No. 631,046

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a unit for propelling and. driving combine harvesters.

An object of this invention is to provide a device that is simple, eflicient and can be economically manufactured, since the parts used to complete the assembly are standard motor truck parts with only minor alterations.

Due to the simple design of the device, retooling is not necessary to manufacture the device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a motor drive unit for combines which includes parts that can be shifted to support a thrasher and header in either of several positions, depending upon the cut that is desired.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists of the details of construction arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view with parts broken away of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a rear view thereof with parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 with parts broken away.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the motor.

Figure 5 is a front view thereof on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the frame adjusted for a left hand out combine.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the frame adjusted for a right handcut combine.

showing the use of a single wheel for steering the device and Figure 9 is a detailed view of the steering mechanism.

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view showing the frame.

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the triangular portion.

Figure 12 is a plan view of the body member.

Figure 13 is a plan view of the brace.

Referring more in detail to the drawings the numeral I I1 designates the chassis or frame of the device which comprises the rectangular portion I2, having parallel spaced rail members II which are joined at their outer ends by the rectangular wheel enclosing frames H0 and III respectively. The frames III! and III are provided longitudinally thereof with relatively spaced openings I12 and bolts H3 secure to the under- Figure 8 is a modified form of the invention side of the frames H0 and III. A removable triangular portion I4 which comprises the straight rail portion I3 having a flanged end I3 and the angular rail portion I30 having the flanged end I3I. As shown in Fig. 7 the ends of the rail portions I3 and I30 are secured to the frame III by bolts H3. In Fig. 6 these rail portions are secured to the frame III! by bolts H3. A cross brace I32 being secured to rail portions I3 and I30 by bolts I33. 0n the apex of the portion I4 there is mounted by means of the flanges I3 and I3I and bolts I34 the running gear I35 for the front steering wheels IS. The frame In further includes the substantially triangular portion I8 which supports a thresher not shown. The triangular portion I8 comprises the angular rail members I1 and I1 respectively which are rigidly joined at one end thereof by the brace plate I10. The other end of rail member I1 is connected to wheel enclosing frame IIO (see Fig. 6) by bolts I1I, or to frame III (see Fig. 7) by bolts I12. Connected to the brace plate I10 is a straight rail member I13 which in Fig. 6 is connected to the frame III) by bolts I14 and in Fig. 7 is connected to frame III by bolts I15. In Fig. 6 the rail member I1 is connected to frame III by bolts I16 while in Fig. 7 the rail member I1 is connected to frame III] by bolts I11. Thus the portions I4 and I8 can be connected as shown in Figures 6 and 7 for a right or left hand cut. Drive wheels 20 are mounted on the housing 22 which extends transversely of the portion I2 within the frames I I0 and III respectively and a platform 24 is supported directly above the portion I2 by uprights The uprights 26 are fixed at each end of the frames III] and III respectively so that the rail members 23 are directly above the rail members II and the rail members 23' provide braces for the members 23. The rail members 23 and 23 form a rectangular platform 24 above the portion I2 and frames III] and III.

Mounted on the platform 24 is the heavy duty truck motor, which is so arranged that it will drive from both ends; such drive being accomplished through the conventional. transmission and through the crank shaft of the motor from the same drive controlling the fan of the motor and the generator thereof. The drive chain or belt 30 connects the crank shaft 32 of the motor 28 with the drive shaft 34 of the clutch 35 which is used to control the thresher and the shaft 34 is provided with a pulley or sprocket 38 over which the chain or belt 30 is trained.

The-clutch 36 is a standard reversible truck 3 clutch controlled by the handle 40, the bell crank lever 42 and links 44 and 46 respectively connected to the actuating arm 48 of the clutch 36, a toothed segment 50 positions the handle 40 in engaged or disengaged position. The shaft 34 is coupled to the main drive of a combine not shown, and the clutch 36 controls the thresher of the combine. This drive can be easily adapted to either right or left hand out machines. When the left hand out is used the frame Ill and other parts are arranged as shown in Figure 7 with the thrasher and header occupying the position shown in broken lines. When a right hand out desired, the parts are arranged as shown in Figure 6. To move the parts from the position shown in Figure 6 to the position shown in Figure 7, the bolts are removed from the registering openings in the legs I3 and I30 and the frame II]. The triangular portion consisting of the legs I3 and I30 is thenwturned over and fastened by :4

bolts to the other end of the frame I 0. The cross brace 54 is detached from the frame I0, triangular portion, and body member. Similarly, the bolts fastening the body member to the frame I!) are removed and the, body member isturned over and the ends of the body member are fastened to the frame by suitable bolt and nut assemblies. Then the brace 54 is arranged as shown in Figure '7 and suitable bolt and nut assemblies are used for againfastening this brace to the body member, frame, and triangular portion. When the parts are arranged as shown in Figure 7, a long shaft 56 is used in place of the short shaft shown in Figure 2. When the parts are to be moved from the position shown in Figure 7 to the position shown in Figure 6, the reverse procedure is :followed. Thus, the cross brace ,54 is detached,

turned over and fastened to the frame. Then, the triangular portion including legs I3 and I4 are detached and fastened to the opposite end of the frame, the body member likewise being secured in the position shown in Figure 6. v The speed of the motor 28 is kept constant bythe speed governor 58 and there is no speed change to the thresher but a higher or lower gear maybe used on the drive.

9 The motor128 drives through a truck clutch 50 and clutch lever 52 and a four speed heavy duty transmission 62 which is provided with the power take oif 6,4. The clutch 6!] being controlled by the gear shift lever 66 and the take off by the lever 68 eoacting with the segment I9 on the take off housing.

The take off 64 drives the delivering or unloadingjauger I2 by means of the shaft I4 and differential housing 22. The joints are used for flexibility of operation. lfhe differential housing T22 hasbeen extended to approximately twice the conventionalsize.

As previously stated the device is steered by the front steering wheels I6, which in this instance are two in number, mounted on the truck axle iifi having the usual steering mechanism 88 and rod 90, controlled by the steering wheel 92. Conveniently located near the wheel 92 is the seat 94 for the operator. The device is provided with hydraulic brakes which are controlled by operators seat is also fixed but the header I02' is reversed as shown in Figures 6 and '7. The header being supported by the link I04, connected to bracket I06, of which there are two-one on each side.

Each of the drive wheels is controlled by a separate brake pedal 96 so that short turns can be made by braking one wheel and using it as a pivot to turn the device.

The grain bin auger using a separate drive can be emptied without the use of the other drives and a pipe I08 connected to the auger delivers the grain as desired In Figures 8 and 9 a single steering wheel H0 isused and is controlled by the gear II2 having direct drive therewith and the toothed steering rod II4. In this instance the portion I4 comprises angular rail members '5 and I I6 respectively and these members are secured to the frame IIEl by bolts "I I1 and II8 respectively in like manner ,as previously described.

The device is simple. Most of the moving parts of the drive connections are provided with housings to prevent dust and dirt and damage thereto and the device, using mostly standard automobile parts, is economical to manufacture with no retooling necessary to make the various parts.

It is believed that the operation of the device and its construction will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood thatminor changes in the details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

In combination, a frame including a rectangular portion, said rectangular portion embodying a pair of spaced parallel horizontally disposed rails, and spaced parallel horizontally disposed arms extending between said rails and secured thereto, said arms being provided with a plurality of spaced apertures therein, a substantially triangular portion including a pair of legs secured together at their apex, there being openings in said legs for registering with the apertures in said arms, securing elements extending through said registering apertures and openings for maintaining said portions detachably connected together, front steering wheels mounted on the apex of said triangular portion, drive wheels arranged adjacent each end of said rec- -.together at their apex, a beam extending from said last named apex, a strip extending angularly from said beam and provided with an off-set portion; the legs and oifset portion pf said strip being provided with a plurality of spaced open- WALTER W. WIERSIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Dawson Jan. 24, 1911 Ross Dec. 19, 1916 Williams July 1, 1919 Pierson Feb. 14, 1939 Walters Mar. 31, 1942 Millard et a1. May 4, 1943 

